The Hon. CHARLIE LYNN: My question is directed to the Minister for Roads and Ports. Will the Minister update the House on measures to stop oversized vehicles entering Galston Gorge?

The Hon. DUNCAN GAY: Many people other than members of this place share concern about Galston Gorge. There is a history of over-length vehicles becoming stuck on roads through the gorge, creating traffic problems and significant delays at considerable cost to the community. I am pleased to report that line marking for the over-length measuring bays in Galston Gorge was completed on Monday last. The measuring bays are easy to use and give motorists the opportunity to measure the lengths of their vehicles before entering the gorge. The message for the drivers of heavy vehicle is: If in doubt, measure the length of your vehicle.

As I have stated previously, a number of new measures to stop over-length heavy vehicles getting stuck in Galston Gorge are already operating. The newly installed roundabout on the western side of Galston Gorge will allow heavy vehicles to turn around safely. Traffic sensors have been installed on both sides of the gorge to detect over-length vehicles and to activate electronic warning signs—also installed on both sides of the gorge—that instruct drivers to turn around. Rogue drivers of over-length vehicles who ignore signs and fail to turn around will be captured by the cameras that have been set up at the eastern end of the gorge. The system then alerts Roads and Traffic Authority inspectors and the registration numbers of the offending vehicles will be captured by the cameras.

I am advised that following extensive analysis the length restriction for Galston Road between Calderwood Road and Montview Parade will remain at 7.5 metres for heavy vehicles. However, light-vehicle combinations up to 11 metres can safely pass through the gorge. Drivers of light-vehicle combinations in excess of 11 metres in length—cars with trailers or caravans et cetera—will be advised not to proceed to the gorge. This follows on from a meeting I had with the Roads Traffic Authority and the great local member for Hornsby, Mr Matt Kean, in June.

The Hon. Michael Gallacher: Super Kean.

The Hon. DUNCAN GAY: He is keen. Matt Kean has been advocating for greater measures to stop over-sized vehicles from entering Galston Gorge since his election in March, and his hard work has paid off. Under Labor this issue languished and was relegated to the sidelines while Labor attempted to cling to power. The former Government simply was not interested in serving the people of Hornsby and the gorge. Interestingly, all that the former Minister in this portfolio was prepared to do was to bag the Roads and Traffic Authority. I must also pay tribute to Ray Hadley who often raises this issue—

[Interruption]

The Hon. Walt Secord might want to sledge Ray Hadley; I certainly do not want to.

The Hon. Walt Secord: Point of order—

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Melinda Pavey will come to order.

The Hon. Walt Secord: My point of order is that the Minister for Roads and Ports is misleading the House. I love Ray Hadley.

The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no point of order.

The Hon. DUNCAN GAY: The Hon. Walt Secord moves remarkably quickly for a big man when he has to. These new measures are state-of-the-art. The Government hopes they will work, but if they do not work we will have to do something draconian. The Government would rather not do that. We are hopeful that common sense will prevail and that good technology will work. However, these things are hard to judge when we are dealing with idiots. [Time expired.]